CSS Alabama

[Euryalus]

I have been looking and pictures and models of CSS Alabama, and wondered if she was fitted with deeper than normal bulwarks - this would have made sense, in oder to hide the deck-mounted guns and give here the appearance of an innocent merchant vessel.

 

[1stMS-Arty]

here are some links to original drawings if that helps any

https://research.archives.gov/id/31491055
https://research.archives.gov/id/31491058
https://research.archives.gov/id/31491061

 

[Carronade]

She looks like a typical sloop of war of the period to me. For comparison, here's a photo of Kearsarge, which made no attempt to disguise what she was; the bulwarks and gunports are similar to Alabama's, including the extra-wide ports, actually hinged sections of bulwark, for the heavy pivot guns, in Kearsarge's case two 11" Dahlgrens.

 

[captaindrew]

I have been looking and pictures and models of CSS Alabama, and wondered if she was fitted with deeper than normal bulwarks - this would have made sense, in oder to hide the deck-mounted guns and give here the appearance of an innocent merchant vessel.

Welcome to the forum from South Florida

 

[rebelatsea]

I have been looking and pictures and models of CSS Alabama, and wondered if she was fitted with deeper than normal bulwarks - this would have made sense, in oder to hide the deck-mounted guns and give here the appearance of an innocent merchant vessel.

Merchant vessels of the time usually had bulwarks that a sailor could see over. Warships until the advent of the turret virtually universally had 6 -7ft high bulwarks and Alabama was no exception.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome @Euryalus, that's an interesting question you asked. I've enjoyed the responses.

 

[Story]

I have been looking and pictures and models of CSS Alabama, and wondered if she was fitted with deeper than normal bulwarks - this would have made sense, in oder to hide the deck-mounted guns and give here the appearance of an innocent merchant vessel.

One of the best collections on web of illustrations is here -> http://donhollway.com/alabama-kearsarge/

 

[Carronade]

One interesting feature on the plans, at bow and stern there are multiple gun ports or hinged bulwark sections, presumably designed for pivot guns, but no such guns were installed at these locations.

Amidships we see similar wide ports for the two pivot guns Alabama did carry, along with four standard gunports each side for her 32pdr carriage guns. Again this is one more pair of ports than needed for the armament she carried, but I suppose the designers wanted to leave their options open.

 

[rebelatsea]

One interesting feature on the plans, at bow and stern there are multiple gun ports or hinged bulwark sections, presumably designed for pivot guns, but no such guns were installed at these locations.

Amidships we see similar wide ports for the two pivot guns Alabama did carry, along with four standard gunports each side for her 32pdr carriage guns. Again this is one more pair of ports than needed for the armament she carried, but I suppose the designers wanted to leave their options open.

I think it was more a case of mounting what weapons they could obtain at the time.